Float for boats



S. E.'VAN HORN.

FLOAT FOR BOATS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1919. RENEWED MAR. 26. 1920.

' 1,352,770, I PatentedSepL' 14, 1920.

- FLOAT non BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Se t, 14 1920;"

Application filed February 21, 1919, Serial no. 278,378. Renewed March 28,1920. Serial No. 369,047,;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. VAN HORN, a citizen of the United States, resid- 7, ing at Manhasset, county of Nassau, and State of New York,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floats for Boats, of which the following is a speciflcation.

This invention relates to floats for boats and small vessels, and has for its object to provide means to support said boats on or above the level of the water when from any cause they are in a. sinking condition; a further object of the invention is to construct such means in such a manner that they may be maintained in a closed position when not in use, thereby taking up but little room, and so that they will instantly openupon the submerging of the boat, and prevent the latter from entirely sinking. I

These and other. objects of my invention are set forth in the following specifications, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclo-- sure and in whichzfi v Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a boat showing my invention applied thereto, and in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of my improved floats; I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of my improved floats in its closed position.

In carrying my invention into practice I attach outriggers to the sides of the boats.

These Outriggers may be as many in number as desired, according to the size and weight .of the boat; Such Outriggers are preferably rectangular in 1 form, having vhorizontal members 10, and vertical depending members 11, which extend downwardly from the outer end of said Outriggers and are pivotally attached thereto, as at 14. My floats are attached to the vertical member 11, and extend toward the water when the boat is floating thereon.

My floats are constructed of strong rubberized fabric 15 in the form of an umbrella or parachute,and may be secured to I I said" vertical member in -'any desired man,

ner, such, for example, as by ribs 16 secured to said fabric, said ribs having. eyes lff in theirupper ends, through which an assemblingwire 18 passes to secure them together in operative position, 1 the vertical .member 11 having cross-r bs or arms 19, 19, which 1 in turn are secured to the wire 18.

V Strips 25 of buoyant material such as cork are fastened to the lower ends of the ribs 16;

A buoyant ring 20,-filled with air or other 2 1 buoyant material, is secured'to' asleeve21 which loosely inclosesthe lowerend ofthe vertical member 11, and is adapted to slide thereon. The upper portion of the sleeve 21 is provided with eyes 22, in which are pivotally secured the lower ends of the ribs 23 the upperends of which are pivotally secured in eyes 24: secured to the ribs 16,

in such manner that as the sleeve 21 is raised on the member '11 by the action of the ring 20, the said ribs and the fabric 15 carried thereby will be distended" in the form of an umbrella. v

As shown. in Fig. 1, my floats will'automatically' close whenthe ring 20 does not touch the water and will normally remain in this position. The moment the boat commences to sink, and my floats strike the water, they will be opened'automatically by the action ofthe strips 25 and the ring 20, resulting in confining more or less air between the fabric 15..and.the water which is prevented from escapement-by said fabric,}

so that an eflicientmeans, is provided for preventing its sinking.

boat so asto prevent the capsizing of the same.

to secure by Letters Patent is I maintaining the boat above the water and.

WhatI claim as my invention and desire I 1 Floats for boats formed of water--- proofed flexible material arranged in the form of an umbrella, and adapted to open" to act as a float upon striking thewater.

2. Floats for boats comprising a body Tmatica'lly upon striking the Water.

' 3. Floats for boats comprising outriggers of Waterproofed flexible material, radial reinforcing members secured thereto, said floats being arranged in the form of an umbrella, and adapted to be maintained in a closed position normally, but to open autosecured to said boats, floats "formed of Waterproofed flexible material secured to said Outriggers, reinforcing members and 10 Horny, have signed my name to this speci- 1'5 SAMUEL A Hoim 

